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T.O. Stands For Totally Over

It’s been two and a half years since Terrell Owens caught a pass in the NFL. In fact, the last time he played in a game the Iraq War was still going on, the Space Shuttle Discovery was still making launches and Osama Bin Laden was still alive. Owens announced last week that if no NFL signed him for the upcoming season that he would retire. Well Terrell better makes his plans to move to Boca because the only team that will be knocking at his door this season are Jehovah’s Witnesses.
There’s no denying Owens talented and impressive career. I’m not here to trash his playing or say he was ever overrated. The problem isn’t in Owens ability, it’s in his actions. Despite first ballot Hall-Of-Fame numbers no team wants to deal with the shenanigans that come with bringing him to a locker room.
Obviously the numbers are there. Nine seasons of 1000+ yards, two of 930+. Eight seasons of 10+ touchdowns, two with 9 TDs. Owens ranks second all-time with 15,934 receiving yards (only the greatest ever to play, Jerry Rice, has more). As I said way back when though (in the last paragraph) the problem isn’t the numbers. It’s the drama. Girly girls want drama, not NFL fans. Girly girls want reality TV and cat fights. NFL fans want the next episode of Game Of Thrones. Owens can’t stay away from the spotlight and now it’s cost him the rest of his career.
Owens controversy problems go back to his 49er days. Even after making the second greatest catch in franchise history (The Catch 2 against Green Bay in 1999) Owens was gone only four seasons latter. Owens weaseled his way out and negotiated a backdoor deal with the Eagles shortly after calling his starting QB in San Francisco “gay”. Calling out a teammates sexually is never perceived as smart and then to turn around and negotiate contract with another team while your old team still holds your rights is just plain stupid.
Owens first season with Philadelphia was just short of magical. The Eagles started 13-1 before Terrell got hurt. Even with sustaining a serious ankle injury during the regular season Owens managed to make it back for Super Bowl XXXIX and recorded 9 catches for 122 yards. Alas the wedding was short lived because Owens mouth started running like Jesse Owens at the Olympics. After only one season Terrell asked to renegotiate his contract. He then called out Donovan McNabb by saying he “wasn’t the guy who got tired in the Super Bowl”. After several more negative comments about the organization the Eagles suspended Owens for four games without pay. After the suspension was up Terrell was deactivated for the remainder of the season.
Shortly following his release from the Eagles (only one year after appearing in a Super Bowl with them) Owens was signed by the Dallas Cowboys. It did’t take long for him to make headlines in “Big D” as Terrell was hospitalized after overdosing on Hydrocodone (a pain killer). In 2006 Owens did the lowest thing any human can do. He spit on CB DeAngelo Hall during a game. That didn’t sit too well with fans and media. Even when he tried to do right he still failed. In 2008 Owens tried defending QB Tony Romo after a playoff loss to the NY Giants. Instead Owens attempt came off as comical when he broke down into a sob fest that would rival any Dick Vermil press conference. After only three seasons (all of which he caught 1000+ yards and 10+ TDs) Terrell had worn out his welcome in the lone star state.
Owens then became like a fruit cake during the holidays, nobody wanted him. Eventually the Bills took a shot and were “rewarded” with the worst 16 game season Owens had since 1999. After putting up only 829 yards with 5 TDs he was not brought back by Buffalo. So what’s the only option after being shuffled out of Buffalo? Why Cincinnati of course. But after helping the Bungles go from10-6 to 4-12 Terrell was…you guessed it…not brought back.
Where does one turn when he’s “blacklisted” from the NFL? Apparently he buys part of a minor league team. Owens joined the ownership group for an IFL team. The Allen Wranglers welcomed Terrell in January 2012. In 8 games for the Wranglers he had 35 catches, 420 yards and 10 touchdowns. Only four months after signing with them the Allen Wranglers released T.O.
It got so bad that Seattle signed Terrell for a whopping 20 days. He had signed a one year contract for $925k but the Seahawks couldn’t even keep him for a whole season. That’s all he has become now, a side joke. I would say he belongs on a t.v. show but even the two he had weren’t entertaining. Terell needs to go into seclusion and just get away from the cameras. No one wants to deal with him. Forget playing in the NFL. The next time anyone should hear from T.O. is in five years when he is inducted into Canton…and then he should go away again for a long time.